Parenting stress and salivary cortisol in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal variations in the context of a service dog’s presence in the family
Parents of children with ASD perceived high levels of parenting stress at baseline. They showed low morning cortisol activity at baseline. Perception of stress predicted morning cortisol activity at baseline. Hypocorticolism related to chronic stress observed in parents of children with ASD. Parenting stress, wakening and morning cortisol decreased with the dog’s presence.